International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Volume 143, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 37-43

Stigma and unmet sexual and reproductive health needs among international migrant sex workers at the Mexico–Guatemala border (Article)

Rocha-Jiménez T. , Morales-Miranda S. , Fernández-Casanueva C. , Brouwer K.C. , Goldenberg S.M.*
  • a Division of Global Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA, United States, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
  • b Consorcio de Investigación sobre VIH SIDA TB (CISIDAT), Cuernavaca, Mexico
  • c Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social (CIESAS), San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico
  • d Division of Global Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA, United States
  • e Division of Global Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, CA, United States, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, Gender and Sexual Health Initiative, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Abstract

Objective: To explore international migrant sex workers' experiences and narratives pertaining to the unmet need for and access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) at the Mexico–Guatemala border. Methods: An inductive qualitative analysis was conducted based on ethnographic fieldwork (2012–2015) including participant observation and audio-recorded in-depth interviews. The participants were female sex workers aged 18 years or older and international migrants working at the Mexico–Guatemala border. Results: In total, 31 women were included. The greatest areas of unmet need included accessible, affordable, and nonstigmatizing access to contraception and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. On both sides of the border, poor information about the health systems, services affordability, and perceived stigma resulted in barriers to access SRH services, with women preferring to access private doctors in their destination country or delaying uptake of until their next trip home. Financial barriers prevented women from accessing needed services, with most only receiving SRH services in their destination country through public health regulations surrounding sex work or as urgent care. Conclusions: There is a crucial need to avoid prioritizing vertical disease-specific services and to promote access to rights-based SRH services for migrant sex workers in both home and destination settings. © 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Author Keywords

Guatemala Migrants Stigma sexual and reproductive health Mexico Sex workers

Index Keywords

Health Personnel ethnographic research Guatemala sexual behavior health care personnel human middle aged statistics and numerical data health service priority journal participant observation Mexico sex worker sexually transmitted disease Sexually Transmitted Diseases Reproductive Health Services Young Adult migrant worker Humans human needs female Contraception qualitative analysis clinical article Social Stigma prostitution sexual health Article adult migration Reproductive Health Sex Work Sex Workers Transients and Migrants
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041334943&doi=10.1002%2fijgo.12441&partnerID=40&md5=dd95aee08f59658b88484d495e238bc6
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.12441
ISSN: 00207292
Original Language: English